St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1887-02-03
TIre GaIedunian.
THE TELEPHONE GIRL.

the east wind blew, ''yeu got some one
for the telephone-did You, Burns !"
eyes, SIR" the head clerk replied.
''The young lady has been here since
Tuesday,
"Young LADY," excIaime Mr.. Wayne,
testify, "why did you get woman
A brokers' Office is no place for wo-
man."
"Whv YOU see. SIR" said Burns, with
an obvious embarrassment and appre-
hensive chances toward light oak
partition. behind which the new opera
tor sat i'm cOncealment, "you didn't say
ANYTHING about that-Only that Mr..
Richards had his hands full with the
wires and that there'd have to be some
one to take charge of the telephone /;
so L"
"That is Just like you, Burns" said
Mr.. Wayne, stamping back into his
private office. ''Any one else would
have known better.
"Why, you see, SIR" said Bnrns, de-
fensively, as he followed him back, 81
didn't think it would make much diff
ference. The yOung lady is very ca
pable, and she seemed to want the
place so badly. She is very poor sir,
and supports her mother. know
something about her, yOu see."
.kastsOh! Some flame of yours, l sup,
.6zH, Burnsl Very nice arrangement
9nF you, no doubt"
xzasI beg pardon, sir" said Burns, in
:lfssoffended manner. 81 am a married
mani"
stBy Jove! so you are ~ said Roland
Wayne with laugh. 81 had forgot
ten that. Though" he added, humor-
Ously, "that doesn't always make a
difference. Well, try her, anyhow.
Where's the mail, please 7"
al tell you what, Burns" one of the
other clerks observed, when that indi-
viduaI finally emerged from Mr..
Wayne's office, "the boss is in fly
humor, isn't heq"
"He's all right" Burns answered,
warmly. "He has given me ticket
to Atlantic City, and two days off"
The clerk whistled.
"Why, thought he was going to
take your head Off"
"You don't know him. L am sure
it is no shame to man whose nerves
are always twinglng with neuralgia II
he loses his temper now and then"
Roland. meanwhile had taken up his
pen, and was writing a lengthy account
of Brisket's new deal in P. Y. & M.
aft the cat jumps this way" he said
i'm conclusion, "the bears have got him
sure. Danbury is on our side. He has
given Brisket the cold shoulder, and, if
Pm not mistaken, somebody will get
woefnllv left. | don't intend that it
shall be L. If everything goes as
think it will, | shall pocket two hun
dred thousand dollars, and then l am
going to get out of the brokerage bust
ness. 1t doesn't suit me, and my
health is so poor that must get away
somewhere or | shall go to pieces"
81 beg pardon, STRIP" said soft,
tremulous voice at his elbow. 81 am
Miss Archer, Mr.. Wayne"
Roland dropped his pen, and rose
politely as he saw slight, graceful
figure in black standing before him.
s'Be seated, Miss Archer" he said
with a smile which no man could have
withheld when he saw the fairness of
her young face, and that shy, sweet
flush on her cheeks. "What can do
for you ?"
81 am the telephone OPERATOR" she
began, rapidly, and with nervous
ness she could not conceal. ~
could not help hearing what you said
to Mr.. Burns little while ago, and
and came to say that if you are not
satisfied to have me stay in the office,
you need only say So"
"Not satisfied - Roland echoed, in
manifest confusion. "Well, really,
YOU know | have not given you Il trial;
and as to what | said little while
ago, | am sorry, Miss Archer. l am
afraid YOU will have to set it down to
neuralgia. | am quite willing to have
you stay if you will"
'You are very kind" she said, lac
ing and unlacing her fingers in some
confusion. 81 should like to stay-in-
deed it is very important that should
have this position, or something else.
But if what you say is true-lf brOk-
er's office is no place for wOman-l-
| think | would rather not stay"
How Roland Wayne berated himself
when he thought of his careless words,
and then marked how her lips CULVER
ed, how her eyelids dropped to keep
back the unshed tears.
81 think | spoke too hastily, Miss
Archer" he said. ga lady's place is
where she makes it. We are not lot
of savages," he added, with warm
smile 'Tf you remain here | think |
can insure you courteous and consider
ate treatment on the part of every one
in this office. If such is not accorded
you, you have only to inform me, and
l will know the reason why"
"YOu are very kind" said Miss Arch
er, with bright, fleeting smile. 81
should like to stay. l really cannot
afford to resign my position"
''Then stay, by all means" said RO-
land.
And, to the edification of his clerks,
he got up and opened the door for her
when she went out.
After that, he often caught himself
listening to the soft yet distinct voice
in the other room, holding converse
tiOns over the phone.
When he was at home with one of
his attacks of neuralgia, and had to
communicate with the Office by wire,
he often remarked how well he could
hear Miss Archer's voice, when all the
others ebbed away into a Babel OF
sound.
Burns did fine thing when he got
that girl in the Office" he unused, one
day when he was kept very inOppOr-
timely. al don't know what we'd do
without her-nOw especially. It's bad
enough as it is. | couldn't have had
this attack at worse time. But
guess everything is all right. Dan
bury's good for any amount this side
of a million. By JOve, though, it
would be rough on me if anything
went wrong with me now. 1t would
clean me out completely"
He was walking up and down the
room, trying To repress the nervous
agitation which attacked him.
"Seven O'Clock ~ he said, glancing